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    Ferrara Original

    4.1 (245 reviews)
    InexpensiveBakeries, Italian
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    FERRARA ORIGINAL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ferrara Original

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    Reviews With Photos

    Ferrara Signature Sandwich
    Tom G.

    Ferrara Bakery & Cafe is one of my favorite places to have lunch near the VA Hospital. I have ordered everything on the menu, but one of my favorites is the Ferrara Signature Subs. They give you a lot for your money. Try their daily specials, especially their Lasagna. You'll be hard-pressed to finish it. They give you a side salad and homemade Italian bread, enough to take home with you or split with a friend.

    the kids LOVED the delicious filling and the fact that this dessert was an activity (mom loved it, too ;))

    Just had a lovely paper-wrapped box of Ferrara chocolate covered almonds & remembered how much i love this place, so felt compelled to come review. We've eaten here a ton (great sandwiches) but a standout was ordering our thanksgiving sides from Ferrara. We got the fill-your-own cannoli with pumpkin icing. Delicious AND a fun activity! Will be doing this same menu again this year :P

    Meatball Sandwich

    Welcoming customer service. Long running Italian bakery. First timer stopped in and asked a frequent customer in line for recommendations. Grilled chicken giardiniera sandwich and Meatball sandwich. The bread was soft & fresh. The chicken had no flavor and dry, needed more dressing. Meatball sandwich was tough and dry. however the marinara sauce was rich and tasty. Though deserts weren't recommended, I got a cannoli, and It was hard and tasted frozen like the customer mentioned.

    Nerina B.

    I have been here several times and usually I order one of their pasta dishes which are usually good. This time around I decided to try one of their sandwiches. I ordered their Ferrara Special which is basically an Italian Sandwich. It was ok sandwich. Not a lot of meat...lots of lettuce on the sandwich. It kind of overwhelmed the flavor from Italian slices of meat. I also tried their Chicken Pastina soup. It was good, it had flavor and filling.

    Eggplant Parmasan sandwich..

    Im from bklyn and italian so I had to try it. Was greated by the owner. She was very welcoming and shared a piece of a family history with us as did I. Thats what Italians do we talk and yes with our hands too. We ordered the Ferrara signature which was very good and the eggplant Parmasan sandwich. The eggplant parm sandwich made me feel like I was home. It was cooked to perfection. The sauce gravy or whatever u want to call it, I just call it delicious. Would definitely recommend.

    Cannoli

    What a beautiful location! So many options for breakfast/lunch/dinner/dessert! I would recommend this to anyone looking for a totally authentic and genuine Italian bakery experience!

    Delicious Cannoli!
    Faith B.

    Today was my first visit to Ferrara. I tried the cannoli and the antipasto salad. Hands down one of the best cannoli's I've had. It was rich with creamy ricotta and savory pistachios. The texture of the dough was perfection. The salad was ok, they charge extra for little things like giardiniera and artichoke hearts. No green olives either.... The staff seemed rushed and not as welcoming. While I loved my cannoli and I would come back for the bakery aspect, this restaurant is just ok in terms of food and service.

    Stephen C.

    Great bakery and cafe is what Ferrara is. My pa grew up not far from Ferrara on the old Westside so I've been pretty familiar with it all my life. This is still good family neighborhood even with all the gentrifying and a throwback to yesteryear. Ferrara Bakery has managed to fit right in with the ever changing neighborhood for over a hundred years. Excellent made in house bakery goods and Italian pastry specialties. Great cannoli! Everything is made in house from the pastries to soups, sandwiches, and pizza. You don't have to order a whole pie as the have a square piece they cut into four smaller slices and heat for you. It's a solid Chicago style tavern cut pizza and a great light snack. I'm a fan of their Lent pepper 'n' egg sandwiches. True Chicago style. I believe they use Turano bread but I may be wrong. On take out orders they wrap the bags very nicely with a special paper bag fold that literally locks up the bag so your purchases don't fly all over the place. Then they hand it to you the way it should be carried. It's little thoughtful things like this that make them special. They care about service and their customers. They also do a nice espresso and cappuccino here too. It's nice to eat inside a true historic landmark just as people did for decades. The small two top cafes tables tucked against the front picture window over looking Taylor Street give it that back in the day urban feel. You watch the customers park in front and swagger in like they own the joint and you just know their majority neighborhood folks who've been coming in for generations. The decor and painted walls tell a story and are reminiscent of the few old school joints left peppered around the city. I'm pretty sure the man who started it all, Nello Ferrara along with family also started Ferrara Pan Candy Co. off the Eisenhower expressway. They're famous for 'lemon heads' , red hots', 'atomic fireballs', and more. It's a great stop on your travels especially if you're doing a tour of cool old urban hot spots. 100 years plus and counting.

    Grilled Chicken Giardiniera Sandwich

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    7 years ago

    This place is so good. Quick and easy for lunch. Tiramisu to die for. Other pastries are fresh and delicious as well!

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    Page 3 of 7

    Ask the Community - Ferrara Original

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    Il Porcellino

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    Il Porcellino has been around for ten years, but my lovely wife and I finally visited this…read morerestaurant on Hubbard Street to enjoy the Happy Hour specials. We had visited Florence last year, and one of the numerous wonderful moments of our trip to Italy was seeing "Il Porcellino" - the lucky bronze boar fountain that draws tourists from around the world. A copy of the boar stands proudly near the entrance of the restaurant, and though it is not as old as the original 1634 sculpture, it was a charming reminder of our amazing Italian holiday. Did I mention that the weekday Happy Hour (4-6PM) specials are quite good? The specials are served only at the bar area, so you might have to wait a few minutes for available seating. We started with some drinks, including two kinds of Negroni. The wild mushroom arancini (5 little balls for $6) were the smallest I've tried, but they were creamy and melt-in-your mouth delicious. The whipped ricotta and jam beautifully served on a strip of toasty focaccia was a unique taste sensation. Prime beef meatballs and short rib sliders on toasted ciabatta bread also hit the spot. Even though we were merely dining at the bar, we enjoyed the overall vibe of the restaurant. There are lots of photos on the walls, interesting lighting from the ceiling, nice serving dishes, and servers who seem to know who their regular diners are. We look forward to returning to Il Porcellino, to bask in that indescribable feeling of being in Italy again.

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